List Of The Characteristics Of Health Food Products

Healthy foods, and products made with them, have characteristics that set them apart from other foods. Foods considered healthy contain more nutrients and fiber, have fewer additives and preservatives, and have been through little processing.
Many foods are labeled as "healthy." Reading the label on health foods and food products is a good way to determine if they can truly be considered health foods.

Whole Foods

Foods that are fresh, whole, and have not been processed contain the most usable nutrients and fiber. Fresh fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals, while whole grains are known for their high fiber content.

Fruit and vegetable juices can be made at home with juicers or can be purchased at the grocery store. Juices that are "healthy" are those made from real juice with little or no additives and preservatives. Juices that are labeled organic have to meet certain requirements for the word "organic" to be placed on the label.

Unprocessed

Processed foods undergo a variety of treatments to help them stay fresh longer. Cooking, freezing and the way a food is packaged can affect the food's nutrient value. Refined grains go through a bleaching process that not only removes necessary fiber, but reduces the nutrient content of the grain as well as all the food products made with it.

When fruits and vegetables are canned, they go through a process where they are exposed to high heat for several minutes. High levels of heat destroys most vitamins and can reduce the effectiveness of many minerals, according to Elson Haas, M.D., in his book "Staying Healthy with Nutrition."

No Additives or Preservatives

Health foods have little or no additives or preservatives. Food dyes, flavor enhancers and other preservatives are hard for the body to breakdown and cause the digestive tract to become sluggish and overburdened, according to Haas.

Some additives fall under the category of natural flavorings, but have drawbacks. Karageenan and monosodium glutamate are both natural flavorings that come from seaweed, but they are excessively high in sodium.

Organic

Healthy foods and health food products that are labeled organic have to meet specific requirements. Organic livestock are fed organic grains and given the chance to roam freely outside without being confined to pens.

Organic crops are grown according to regulations that prohibit the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Genetically engineered foods, synthetic agrichemicals and irradiation are not allowed to be used on organic produce and crops, according to the Organic Farming Research Foundation. The USDA National Organic Program controls the certification process that determines whether foods meet the standards set for foods to be labeled organic.